Chapter 1282: Storytellers! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Whoosh!
One flock of birds after another scattered in various directions, as did various groups of cavalry, each with their own mission. Whether it was the Great Tang or its surrounding countries, an undercurrent was surging beneath their surfaces. The disarmament of the various countries had attracted the attention of countless people, but while the entire world was focused on this mass disarmament, few people noticed the Imperial Court silently passing two proposals.
The first proposal was for all Great Tang soldiers to withdraw two hundred li in response to the movements of the other countries. The second proposal was to open twenty-three 'treaty cities'. In these treaty cities, it was encouraged for the people of the Great Tang and foreign countries to interact and trade so as to facilitate the flow of manpower. The explanation the Imperial Court gave was that since the Great Tang was now allies with the other countries, the people needed to deepen their understanding of each other so as to avoid the necessity of war.
These proposals were all passed after Li Junxian entered the Secretariat as the Secretariat Advisor. And for such a 'minor' matter, without good reason, not even King Song could stop it.
Besides the events in the Imperial Court, within the capital, the Confucians were continuously posting announcements, and even an ordinary child of the capital now knew that the Tibetans, Turks, Goguryeons, and all the other peoples were learning the language of the Great Tang. The Confucians were opening more and more schools in foreign lands with each passing day, and every day, more and more Hu were entering these schools to learn the Tang language in admiration of its culture.
The people were so focused on this subject that the gambling houses began to offer odds on the number of new schools and new Hu students added each day. This sort of special wager won unexpected attention from many people.
At the same time, the idea of using benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust to slowly change the Hu and make them develop amicable relationships with the Great Tang to create a world of eternal peace also began to raise a great clamor in the capital.
Slowly and quietly, the minds of the people began to change.
”Your Highness, it's bad!”
Several days later, when Wang Chong was seated in his study reading through the information sent back from the various foreign countries, Su Shixuan urgently rushed in. He held a paper in his hand and appeared extremely uneasy and worried.
”There's talk in the capital that someone is about to compare the economic relationship between the Great Tang and the foreign countries from before and after the war. The situation seems very unfavorable toward Your Highness!”
Su Shixuan's face was red and he could hardly catch his breath. Su Shixuan had served Wang Chong from the war of the southwest all the way to the campaigns of Talas and Khorasan. All of these wars had been fraught with peril, but no matter how dangerous the situation had been, Su Shixuan had never once panicked.
”Calm down and speak slowly.”
Wang Chong glanced at Su Shixuan, then raised his brush and wrote out a line of words on the document he was reading. After that, he placed the document aside and put the brush on its stand.
Su Shixuan took in a deep breath and appeared much calmer, but he still seemed rather uneasy.
”Your Highness, some busybody in the capital has started comparing the situation on the border from before and after the war,” Su Shixuan urgently said. ”He says that before every war, all the people living by the border were peaceful and happy, and the people of both countries would trade and interact. But once soldiers start a war, these places will be strewn with corpses, the towns and villages burned to the ground. The living standards of the people living by the border will also rapidly plunge.”
Wang Chong raised his head and nonchalantly asked, ”What does this matter have to do with us?”
”Your Highness was made King of Foreign Lands by His Majesty and is the leader of the militarists. These people are aiming their spears at Your Highness and the militarists, particularly at Your Highness!” Su Shixuan sternly said.
Buzz!
Wang Chong's brow slightly creased at these words.
”Milord, that's not all. It's currently very popular to espouse such ideals in the capital, and many storytellers have stopped talking about the Three Kingdoms, the Wei-Jin era, or legends from the underworld, and have started talking about this matter instead. And their actions have attracted the attention of many people in the capital, with even small children running over to hear their stories. This was an announcement we picked up from a restaurant while coming here. Your Highness, please take a look.”
As Su Shixuan spoke, he placed the paper on Wang Chong's desk, his expression fraught with concern.
Wang Chong took the paper and glanced at it. He said nothing, but his brow furrowed even more tightly.
This advertisement did not have many details. It only said that today, during the Xu Period (7-9pm), there would be a 'free chat about the surrounding lands' and that all the people of the capital were welcome to come and listen.
”Milord, this matter is extremely unfavorable to you. I suspect that this is also the work of the Confucian Sect!” Su Shixuan said.
Wang Chong said nothing, only closed his eyes and rested his back against his sandalwood chair, looking contemplative. After some time, he opened his eyes once more.